Are Moroccan industries improving their sustainability through the implementation of Lean Six Sigma?

Purpose Current studies show that the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology is used all over the world, by different types of companies in different countries. However, this is not yet the case for certain developing countries such as Morocco, where this methodology is still being discovered and applied and where also the relationship between the adoption of this methodology and sustainable performance is not yet clear. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the impact of LSS tools, used by industrial companies in Morocco, on the three dimensions of performance: economic, social and environmental. Design/methodology/approach This study used partial least squares-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to conduct an empirical examination of the impact of LSS tools used by Moroccan manufacturing industries on their sustainable performance. Data were collected using a semistructured questionnaire, with a total of 121 valid responses collected for this study. Findings The results showed that the adoption of LSS tools has a positive effect on the sustainable performance of these industries. The analysis of the collected data also revealed that this effect is most significant when it comes to social performance, followed by environmental and finally economic performance. It was also found that Lean Management tools have a greater impact than Six Sigma tools. Practical implications The results of this study may encourage Moroccan industries that are new to LSS to adopt it, as it proves to have positive results not only on the economic aspects of the firm but also on the improvement of employee well-being and the protection of our planet’s environment. In addition, this study gives them an idea of the tools that are most widely used in their Moroccan context, thus facilitating the choice of tools with which they can begin to embed a continuous improvement mindset. Originality/value Although several studies have already analyzed the relationship between the LSS approach and sustainable performance, these studies have generally focused on developed countries that are well advanced in the use of these tools. Hence, the originality of this study is its relevance to the Moroccan context, which still needs more studies in the fields of continuous improvement and sustainability.